Written Answers Wednesday 11 June 2008

Scottish Executive

Agriculture

Willie Coffey (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what funding it has made available to farmers and others in rural areas in (a) Kilmarnock and Loudoun and (b) Scotland to support diversification of the rural economy in each year since 1999.

Richard Lochhead: From 2000 to 2006, funding for diversification was provided by the Agricultural and Farm Business Development Schemes (ABDS/FBDS). The information you have requested is not held or readily available specifically for the Kilmarnock and Louden area, but a total of 27 projects were approved in the North Ayrshire local authority area during that period, resulting in funding of £487,877 being awarded. Across Scotland as a whole, 1,150 projects were approved, with funding awarded of £21.95 million.

Audiology

Patricia Ferguson (Glasgow Maryhill) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-11537 by Shona Robison on 18 April 2008, where the robust trials to establish the comparative benefits of bilateral implantation are taking place.

Patricia Ferguson (Glasgow Maryhill) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-11537 by Shona Robison on 18 April 2008, who is carrying out the robust trials to establish the comparative benefits of bilateral implantation.

Patricia Ferguson (Glasgow Maryhill) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-11537 by Shona Robison on 18 April 2008, how many trial cases to establish the comparative benefits of bilateral implantation are being pursued.

Patricia Ferguson (Glasgow Maryhill) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-11537 by Shona Robison on 18 April 2008, when the outcome of the robust trials to establish the comparative benefits of bilateral implantation will be known.

Shona Robison: Preliminary work has been undertaken to establish a UK randomised control trial entitled "A pilot study for a multi-centre randomised control trial of the effectiveness and cost effectiveness of bilateral cochlear implementation compared with unilateral cochlear implantation for severely to profoundly hearing impaired children". This work has been led by Professor Quentin Summerfield, University of York. The Scottish Cochlear Implantation Service at Crosshouse Hospital in Kilmarnock has received ethical approval to participate in the trial. At least four other UK centres have also agreed to participate.

  The trial is now awaiting publication by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) of the technology appraisal on cochlear implants for severe to profound deafness in children and adults. This report is expected to be published in September 2008.

  If the NICE report recommends bilateral implantation universally, the study will not be required. If a trial is recommended by the report, it is possible that the original proposal may need to be amended or extended. In light of this uncertainty, it is not possible to say at this time how long it will take before results are published.

Care of Older People

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the rate of home help provision was per 100,000 people over the age of 65 in each local authority area in (a) 2006-07 and (b) 2007-08.

Shona Robison: The following table provides information on the number of people over aged 65 who receive care at home and the rate per 100,000 for each local authority in 2006 and 2007. Care at home includes both personal and non-personal care services. Over the past decade the total number of people receiving home care services has reduced significantly – from around 80,000 in 1998 to 71,000 in 2007.

  

 
 
2006
2007


Number of People 65+ Receiving Home Care
Rate Per 100,000
Number of People 65+ Receiving Home Care
Rate Per 100,000


Aberdeen City
2,488
7,722
2,541
7,871


Aberdeenshire
1,826
4,959
1,929
5,289


Angus
1,701
8,129
1,711
8,247


Argyll and Bute
832
4,552
712
3,913


Clackmannanshire
572
7,552
572
7,706


Dumfries and Galloway
1,742
5,610
1,857
6,080


Dundee City
1,594
6,260
1,826
7,129


East Ayrshire
1,413
7,050
1,481
7,401


East Dunbartonshire
1,007
5,417
1,025
5,540


East Lothian
1,107
6,718
1,125
6,835


East Renfrewshire
834
5,465
884
5,798


Edinburgh, City of
4,346
6,344
3,984
5,825


Eilean Siar 
571
10,635
563
10,407


Falkirk
1,865
7,874
1,805
7,643


Fife
5,680
9,468
5,570
9,308


Glasgow City
7,461
8,899
7,194
8,517


Highland
2,246
5,900
1,927
5,066


Inverclyde
982
7,050
1,086
7,704


Midlothian
973
7,682
869
6,875


Moray
1,086
7,037
1,114
7,298


North Ayrshire
1,172
4,930
1,219
5,160


North Lanarkshire
3,385
7,174
3,380
7,164


Orkney Islands
410
11,338
302
8,431


Perth and Kinross
1,100
4,056
1,078
3,992


Renfrewshire
1,504
5,492
1,529
5,606


Scottish Borders
1,279
5,908
1,156
5,437


Shetland Islands
470
13,905
429
12,614


South Ayrshire
1,352
5,992
1,431
6,363


South Lanarkshire
2,655
5,361
2,933
5,962


Stirling
709
4,948
673
4,713


West Dunbartonshire
1,661
11,483
1,652
11,312


West Lothian
1,164
5,580
1,144
5,501


Scotland Total
57,187
6,808
56,701
6,766



  Source: Home Care Annual Return 2006 and 2007, Scottish Government.

Council Tax

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether local authorities have a legal obligation to collect council tax on the first day of each month.

John Swinney: There is no legal obligation for local authorities to collect council tax on the first day of each month. In practice, local authorities offer residents various payment methods including council payment cards, direct debit and cash payment. Direct debit payments are often restricted to certain dates each month. Dumfries and Galloway Council, for example, require such payment on 1st, 15th or 21st of each month.

Council Tax

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what statutory procedures are required of local authorities if individuals do not pay their council tax on the first day of any month.

John Swinney: The relevant statutory provisions are set out in the Council Tax (Administration and Enforcement) (Scotland) Regulations 1992.

Courts

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many prisoner escort drivers are employed as court orderlies.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  This information is not held by the Scottish Prison Service.

  The deployment of Reliance Custodial Services staff is a matter for the service provider. Court staffing levels will vary in accordance with court business on any given day and vehicle crews are routinely used to augment court staffing levels, a role for which they are appropriately trained.

Education

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many HM Inspectorate of Education (HMIE) assistant inspectors in each year since 2001 were formerly qualified teachers, expressed also as a percentage of the total number of assistant inspectors.

Fiona Hyslop: Assistant inspectors are appointed by HMIE to undertake a number of days’ work each year. They comprise retired HM Inspectors or others with up-to-date knowledge of and a background in education and services for children and young people, including experience in inspection and review procedures and quality assurance work.

  HMIE first appointed assistant inspectors in 2003 and since then, has appointed 50. Of the 50, three did not take up their appointments and from the remaining 47, 32 had previously been teachers and eight were lecturers in further education colleges. This equates to 85% of the assistant inspector group.

  Those assistant inspectors not involved in inspecting schools and reviewing colleges will be involved in other aspects of HMIE’s work i.e. community learning and development, services for children and as a consequence, will have qualifications and relevant experience in community education, health, educational psychology, criminal justice and social work.

Environment

Willie Coffey (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it supports the introduction of a levy on plastic bags.

Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government is committed to working with retailers and others to reduce the number of single use carrier bags. To that end, I have established a working group with retailers to consider various options to cut bag use on a voluntary basis. If voluntary measures should not work, the Scottish Government would consider legislation to reduce bag use.

Environment

Willie Coffey (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration within its powers and responsibilities it has given to banning stores from issuing single-use non-biodegradable plastic bags.

Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government is in favour of reducing the unnecessary use of carrier bags but our preference at this stage is not in favour of an outright ban of products. In any event, an outright ban on a product might run contrary to Scotland’s EU obligations.

Ferry Services

Keith Brown (Ochil) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it believes that a direct rail link to Rosyth from Clackmannanshire and Stirling could increase the commercial viability of any sea route from Rosyth to continental Europe.

Stewart Stevenson: Rail services in this area will be examined as part of the Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR) which is expected to report to ministers in the summer.

First Minister

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any assessment has been made of the First Minister’s carbon footprint.

John Swinney: No. It is not currently possible to disaggregate the emissions relative to a specific individual’s business activities from those of the organisation.

Fisheries

John Scott (Ayr) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to introduce a fishing catch limit for tope.

Richard Lochhead: Catches of tope by the Scottish fleet are at low levels. I currently have no plans to introduce a fishing catch limit, although I will keep the situation under review.

Fisheries

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the consequences of an independent Scotland, within the EU, withdrawing from the Common Fisheries Policy.

Richard Lochhead: The Common Fisheries Policy has worked against the interests of Scottish Fishermen. As an independent country we would pursue fisheries policies that would return control of fisheries to Scotland and that best suited the Scottish marine environment and Scottish industry.

Fisheries

Mike Rumbles (West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive which stakeholders are members of its expert panel on alternatives to the common fisheries policy, as referred to by the First Minister on 29 May 2008 ( Official Report , c. 9157).

Richard Lochhead: I will make an announcement on the expert panel on alternatives to the common fisheries policy shortly. The panel will comprise a small number of experts taking evidence from a wide range of stakeholders.

Fisheries

Mike Rumbles (West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what legal advice is being taken by its expert panel on alternatives to the common fisheries policy.

Richard Lochhead: The expert panel’s function is to develop alternative models to better manage Scottish fisheries. It will be for the panel to decide whether and what legal advice is required as part of their research.

Fisheries

Mike Rumbles (West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether its expert panel on alternatives to the common fisheries policy has consulted, or plans to consult, the UK Government.

Richard Lochhead: I would expect the expert panel to seek the views from a wide range of stakeholders in Scotland, the UK, Europe and beyond in the course of their considerations. I fully expect that the work of the panel will be of great interest to the UK Government, other member states, the European Community and countries beyond the EU.

Fisheries

Mike Rumbles (West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish any reports made by its expert panel on alternatives to the common fisheries policy.

Richard Lochhead: Yes. I believe the expert panel report will provide a valuable contribution to developing fisheries policies in Scotland and to the wider debate across Europe on reform of the common fisheries policy.

Health

John Farquhar Munro (Ross, Skye and Inverness West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it conducted any research into the heath effects on communities who live in close proximity to electricity substations as opposed to those who live near pylons.

Shona Robison: The Scottish Government is not aware of any specific research that relates to health effects of substations as opposed to pylons. Recent reports published are the Stakeholder Advisory Group on Extremely Low Frequency Electromagnetic Fields (SAGE) in April 2007 and The Cross Party Inquiry into Childhood Leukaemia and Extremely Low Frequency Electric and Magnetic Fields (ELF EMF) Report published in July 2007. The Scottish Government is considering the contents of these reports, in close liaison with our counterparts in other UK Government Departments and devolved administrations

  The Scottish Government’s principal advisor on radiation and health is the Radiation Protection Division of the Health Protection Agency (HPA).

Health Promotion

Trish Godman (West Renfrewshire) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much it has spent on campaigns to raise the awareness of (a) breast cancer, (b) HIV/Aids, (c) road safety and (d) MRSA and clostridium difficile over the last five years.

Nicola Sturgeon: Advertising spend for all campaigns managed directly by the Scottish Government Marketing Unit from 2004-05 to 2006-07 is published on the Scottish Government website at:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/About/govtmay307/Strategic-Board/corp services/17963/advertising-marketing.

  Expenditure for 2003-04 is outlined in answer to question S2W-15204 on 12 April 2005. Figures for each year include expenditure on a variety of Road Safety campaigns. The relevant figures for 2007-08 will be published shortly.

  Campaigns to raise awareness of issues relating to Breast Cancer, Aids and Hand Hygiene were run during this period by NHS Health Scotland and Health Protection Scotland respectively, although in 2007-08 the Scottish Government made a contribution of £39,618 to the Hand Hygiene campaign. Further details of expenditure are a matter for the bodies involved; the information requested is not held centrally.

  All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

International Development

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it has given to local authorities and NHS boards regarding the release of specialised staff to help in relief and development work overseas.

Nicola Sturgeon: Guidance was issued to NHS boards in HDL (2006) 8 Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO) and NHSScotland Partnership. This pilot project ran from April 2006 to February 2006 to March 2008 and was aimed at encouraging NHSScotland healthcare professionals to volunteer overseas.

  The Health Directorate has since written to health boards encouraging them to continue to support staff wishing to take leave for development work overseas beyond the pilot period and in line with this HDL.

  The Scottish Government has not issued any such guidance to local authorities.

International Development

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive which of its staff have been released to work overseas on relief and development programmes since May 2007.

John Swinney: The Scottish Government operates formal career break and special leave policies to enable staff to take time away from the organisation. As an employer, the Scottish Government is very supportive of staff who apply to take a break from employment to undertake work overseas on relief and development programmes. However, we do not hold centrally information about the reasons why individual members of staff are released from work.

  The Scottish Government also support staff seeking secondment opportunities, which are in line with the Interchange Policy, to organisations delivering relief and development programmes. However, there are no recent examples of staff being seconded to such programmes.

Justice

Patricia Ferguson (Glasgow Maryhill) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had since 14 May 2008 with the Department for Work and Pensions concerning the public inquiry into the Stockline disaster.

Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Government and the Department for Work and Pensions in their capacity as joint sponsors of the ICL public inquiry have corresponded and had discussions on a range of issues relating to the inquiry. Specifically since 14 May 2008, Scottish ministers wrote to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on 20 May 2008 about an issue raised at a meeting between the Cabinet Secretary for Justice and representatives of the families and the Secretary of State replied to that letter on 4 June 2008.

Modern Apprenticeships

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to ensure that the governance of private educational institutions is in accordance with democratic principles.

Fiona Hyslop: Scotland has a wide range of education institutions which are either wholly private or which operate with a substantial degree of autonomy and independence.

  The Scottish Government has no locus over the governance arrangements of wholly private institutions such as independent schools and private training companies.

  Educational institutions which operate with substantial autonomy and independence include colleges of further education and universities. The governance arrangements of incorporated colleges are set out in the Further and Higher Education (Scotland) Act 1992. In line with the recommendation of the recent Review of Scotland’s Colleges, the Scottish Government has initiated a review of schedule 2 to the 1992 act which will examine the constitution and proceedings of the boards of management of incorporated colleges.

  The basis of the governance arrangements which apply to universities varies between institutions.

  There are also four publicly-funded colleges which are not incorporated under statute and where the Scottish Government has no locus over governance arrangements. Of these, two fall within the respective responsibility of Orkney Islands Council and Shetland Islands Council. The remaining two colleges are independent charitable trusts over which the Scottish Government again has no locus.

  The governing bodies of all publicly-funded colleges and universities are expected to abide by The Good Governance Standard for Public Services in discharging their duties.

Modern Apprenticeships

John Park (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what support it aims to give to modern apprenticeships and other forms of training in the tourism sector.

Fiona Hyslop: We are continuing to support and recruit for all modern apprenticeship frameworks for 16 to 19-year-olds including those used by the tourism sector.

  The government’s increasing investment in Lifelong Learning including on Individual Learning Accounts which can now be used in the workplace, our colleges and higher education institutions, student support and the Scottish Union Learning Fund provides a variety of skills opportunities for those in the retail sector to pursue.

Modern Apprenticeships

John Park (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what support it aims to give to modern apprenticeships and other forms of training in the retail sector.

Fiona Hyslop: We are continuing to support and recruit for all modern apprenticeship frameworks for 16 to 19-year-olds including those used by the retail sector.

  The government’s increasing investment in Lifelong Learning including on Individual Learning Accounts which can now be used in the workplace, our colleges and higher education institutions, student support and the Scottish Union Learning Fund provides a variety of skills opportunities for those in the retail sector to pursue.

Museums

Malcolm Chisholm (Edinburgh North and Leith) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what capital investment it will provide to the national industrial museums.

Linda Fabiani: As I have made clear on a number of occasions, the Scottish Government will consider capital investment in the national industrial museums on the basis of a detailed business case, and, in the case of the Mining Museum, following a review of the technical details by Historic Scotland. I understand the National Maritime Museum will submit their business case later this month.

  In the meantime, the Scottish Government has provided the Maritime Museum with £60,000 for office accommodation and we are now able to offer £25,000 to the Mining Museum to enable it to undertake immediate repairs.

NHS Staff

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-13010 by Nicola Sturgeon on 28 May 2008, how many attacks there have been on GPs and their staff in each practice in the Lothians in each year since 1997.

Nicola Sturgeon: The information requested is not available.

People with Disabilities

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many disabled students did not apply for the disabled students allowance for each academic year from 2001-02 to 2007-08.

Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government has no way of ascertaining how many disabled students chose not to apply for the Disabled Students Allowance (DSA) for each academic year from 2001-02 to 2007-08.

  However, the following table shows the number of higher education students at Scottish higher education institutions and colleges that have declared a disability. It is worth noting that these statistics are reliant on students choosing to declare their disability. The table also shows the number of students who have been in receipt of the Disabled Students Allowance (DSA) for each academic year from 2001-02 to 2006-07.

  The table does not contain statistics for 2007-08 as this data has not yet be published.

  

Academic Year
Students in Receipt of DSA*
HE students at Scottish Higher Education Institutions & Colleges that have Declared a Disability**


2001-02
1,645
10,955


2002-03
2,040
11,620


2003-04
2,410
13,125


2004-05
2,775
15,185


2005-06
3,165
16,090


2006-07
3,385
17,870



  *Source: Students Awards Agency for Scotland.

  **Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency and Scottish Funding Council.

  Note: Student numbers have been rounded to the nearest five.

People with Disabilities

Trish Godman (West Renfrewshire) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when the Wheelchair and Seating Services Project Board last met and whether up-to-date minutes of its meetings will be made available on the Scottish Government’s website.

Shona Robison: The Wheelchair and Seating Services Project Board which meets quarterly, last met on 17 March 2008. The minutes of this meeting will be made available on the Scottish Government website shortly after they are agreed by the board members at the next meeting on 23 June.

Police

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many police officers are projected to (a) qualify from police college and (b) retire from the police service in 2008 and 2009.

Kenny MacAskill: Based on inputs from forces the Scottish Police College estimates that it will train in excess of 1,500 new officers in 2008-09. Figures for 2009-10 are not available. Details of the number of officers eligible to retire from the police service in 2008 and 2009 are not held centrally.

Police

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many police stations have been closed and how many new ones opened since May 2007, broken down by police board.

Kenny MacAskill: This information is not held centrally.

Police, Public Order and Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2006

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will review the Police, Public Order and Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2006, in particular subsection (8)(11B) of section 70, in order to not apply or limit the obligations under this section in so far as they pertain to common ridings.

Kenny MacAskill: The Guidance to Local Authorities, published by the Working Group on Marches and Parades in December 2006, makes clear that, if a local authority makes a case why a certain type of procession should be excluded from the notification process, the Scottish ministers will consider it and make an order if necessary. No applications have been received.

  I published a consultation document on 6 June 2008 seeking the views of communities and marching organisations on the implementation to date of the marches and parades provisions of the Police, Public Order and Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2006 and associated guidance. We will consider the responses to this consultation before deciding if any changes to the legislation or guidance are required.

Prison Service

Bill Aitken (Glasgow) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that it is appropriate that the Scottish Prison Service should monitor all prison contracts including the contracts involving private prisons.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:

  It is appropriate that all services contracted by the SPS are monitored closely to review performance and standards of service delivery.

Prison Service

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of people (a) coming into and (b) leaving prison since May 2007 were drug dependent, broken down by prison.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  This information is not yet available. These figures will be published in the SPS Annual Report in August 2008 and in Drug Misuse Statistics Scotland, due in December 2008.

Public Appointments

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what appointments to public bodies have been made so far in 2008 and which of those appointees have declared political activity.

John Swinney: The following table provides the information requested in relation to the 80 appointments and re-appointments made by Scottish ministers to public bodies regulated by the Commissioner for Public Bodies in Scotland since 1 January 2008.

  

Public Body
Name of Appointee
Declared Political Activity


Executive NDPBs
 
 


Bòrd na Gàidhlig
Alexandra Jones
Prof Kenneth MacKinnon
Murdo MacLennan
Christina Allon
None
None

None
None


Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh
Angela McNaught
None


Royal Commission on the Ancient & Historical Monuments of Scotland 
Elspeth Reid
None


Scottish Criminal Cases Review Committee
Graham Bell
None


Scottish Environment Protection Agency
Prof David Sigsworth
  Bob Downes
Julie Sturrocks
None
None
  Yes Labour 


Skills Development Scotland
Anne Douglas
Prof William Stevely CBEDr 
Janet Lowe CBEE
velyn McCann
Prof Alan McGregor
Cay Stratton
None
None
None
None
None
None



Scottish Children’s Reporters Association
Andrew Miller
Margaret Wells
Yes SNP
  None


Scottish Natural Heritage
Michelle Francist
  Prof Phillip Thomas
None
None


Advisory NDPBs
 
 


Building Standards Advisory Committee
Stephen Garvin
Bimal Kumar
Ian Paterson
Mervin Toshner
Bryan Woodley
Kevin Burnett
Scott Restrick
Len Murray
Nick Montgomery
Malcolm MacLeod
Gordon Souter
Lori McElroy
None
None
  None
  None
  None
  None
  None
  None
  None
  None
  None
  None


Scottish Industrial Development Advisory Board
Dr Robert Crawford
Yes SNP


Scottish Advisory Committee on Distinction Awards
Prof Hilary Capell
Robert Jeffrey
  Prof James McDonald
  Ken Paterson
  Dr Charles Winstanley
  Sandra Douglas
None
  None
  None
  None
  None
None


NHS Bodies
 
 


Ayrshire and Arran Health Board
Prof William Stevely
Martin Cheyne
Kirsty Derwent
David Price
None
Yes Con
None
None


Forth Valley Health Board
Dr Karen Facey
None


Grampian Health Board
Elizabeth McDade
None


Greater Glasgow & Clyde Health Board
Gerald McLaughlin
Jessica Murray
  Amanda Paul
  Elinor Smith
  John Bannon
  Rahni Dhir
None
None
  None
  None
  None
  None


Highland Health Board
Pamela Courcha
Vivien Shelley
Yes SNP
None


Lanarkshire Health Board
Terry Currie
  Nelna Mahal
None
None


Lothian Health Board
David Belfall
Lesley Jamie
  Stephen Renwick
None
None
None


National Waiting Times Centre Board 
Jeane Freeman
Yes Labour


NHS Quality Improvement Scotland
James Jackson
None


Tayside Health Board
John Angus
Elizabeth Forsyth
  Murray Petrie
  Betty Ward
None
None
None
Yes Labour 


Mental Welfare Commission
Carol Dobson
Colin Welsh
Douglas White
Linda Graham
Ms Dale Meller
None
Yes SNP
None
None
Yes SSP


Public Corporations
 
 


Highlands and Islands Enterprise
Craig Spence
  Steven Thomson
Prof Mary Bownes
  Prof Lorne Crerar
  James Royan
None
None
  None
None
None


Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd
Michael Cantlay 
None


David MacBrayne Ltd
Norman Quirk
Dr Robert Sinclair
None
  None


Scottish Water
Alistair Buchanan
  Donald Emslie
David Gray
None
  None
None


Total Number
80
9



  This information is published on the Scottish Government’s website at:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Government/public-bodies/directory.

Public Appointments

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it has given to allowing parliamentary committees to scrutinise candidates for major appointments to public bodies.

John Swinney: The Scottish Government is committed to improving, enhancing and simplifying both the process and the policy on making public appointments to public bodies. In doing so, we will work closely with all key stakeholders including the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments in Scotland (OCPAS). At present, pre-appointment hearings are not being actively considered. The UK Government have taken steps in this direction and we will continue to monitor developments.

Scottish Government Staff

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many full-time-equivalent staff were employed in each of its directorates at 1 May 2008 and what the comparative figures were for 1 May 2007.

John Swinney: Information about the number of full-time equivalent (FTE) staff employed in each directorate at 1 May 2008 and the comparative figures for 1 May 2007 is in the following tables.

  Full-Time Equivalent Staff Employed in Each Departmental Group (see Background Note) as at 1 May 2007.

  

Department
Departmental Group
FTE Total


Legal Parliamentary Services
Legal and Parliamentary Services
174.4


Legal Parliamentary Services Total 
174.4


Office Permanent Secretary 
Analytical Services Group
62.9


Change and Corporate Services
662.2


Ministerial support group
50.2


Office of the Chief Scientific Adviser
6.9


Perm Sec Office
4.9


Private Office
77.2


Office Permanent Secretary Total 
864.3


SE Development Department 
Analytical Services
30.3


Housing and Regeneration
87.8


Planning
56.5


Secretariat
4


SEIRU
32.7


Social Justice
51.5


SE Development Department Total 
262.8


SE Education Department
Children Young People and Social Care
89.2


 
Head of Department and Secretariat
4


Information and Analytical Services
54.7


Schools Group
115.1


Tourism Culture and Sport Group
56.8


SE Education Department Total 
319.8


SE Environment Rural Affairs Department 
Environment Group
118.4


ERAD:Senior MGT
7


Marine Group
67.1


Operations Group
562.6


Rural Group
116.2


Science and Analysis Group
62.4


State Veterinary Service Group
2.7


SE Environment Rural Affairs Department Total 
936.4


SE Enterprise Transport Lifelong Learning Department 
Enterprise and Industrial Affairs Group
207.3


Life Long Learning Group
88.5


Scottish Development International Group
43.6


Secretariat
6


Transport Group
85.2


SE Enterprise Transport Lifelong Learning Department Total
430.6


SE Finance Central Services Dept 
Analytical Services Division
15.8


COPFS Inspectorate
3


Finance
4.7


Finance Group
219


International and Communications Group
128.5


Public Service Reform and Efficiency Group
104.4


Scottish Procurement Directorate
2


Secretariat
4


SE Finance Central Services Dept Total 
481.4


SE Health Dept 
Chief Executive’s Office
6


Chief Medical Officer
26.9


Delivery Group
21.6


Finance Group
47


Health Improvement Group
48


Healthcare Policy and Strategy group
62.9


Nursing Midwifery and Allied Health Professions
22.5


Primary Care and Community Care Group
88.3


Secretariat
2


Workforce Group
31


SE Health Dept Total 
356.2


SE Justice Dept 
Civil Justice and International Group
85


Courts Group
15.9


Criminal Justice Group
80.4


Police and Community Safety Group
119


Secretariat
6.6


SE Justice Dept Total 
306.9


Paid Centrally Managed Staff
Paid Centrally Managed Staff
81.4


Grand Total 
4214.2



  Full-Time Equivalent Staff Employed in Each Directorate (see Background Note) as at 1 May 2008

  

DG
Directorate
FTE Total


 DG Economy
DG Economy and Chief Economic Advisor
5.00


 
DG Economy Business Management and Support
7.00


 
Directorate for Built Environment
93.50


 
Directorate for Planning and Environmental Appeals
36.75


 
Economic Strategy Directorate
5.83


 
Europe, External Affairs and Culture
87.92


 
Finance and Central Services - General
1.00


 
Finance Directorate
143.31


 
Inspectorate of Prosecution in Scotland
3.54


 
Public Service Reform Directorate
100.29


 
Scottish Development International
41.69


 
Scottish Procurement Directorate
104.26


 
Transport Directorate
91.40


DG Economy Total 
721.49


DG Education
Children, Young People and Social Care
191.27


 
Corporate Analytical Services
71.65


 
DG Co-Ordination: Education
6.00


 
Enterprise, Energy and Tourism
187.29


 
General Group
73.46


 
Lifelong Learning
113.85


 
Office of the Chief Scientific Adviser
8.59


 
Schools Directorate
104.75


DG Education Total 
756.87


DG Environment
Climate Change and Water Industry
23.58


 
DG: Environment
6.00


 
Environmental Quality
52.87


 
Greener Scotland Directorate
14.31


 
Marine Directorate
88.36


 
Rural and Environment Research and Analysis Directorate
72.27


 
Rural Directorate
128.66


 
Rural Payments and Inspections Directorate
547.48


DG Environment Total 
933.53


DG Health
Chief Medical Officer Directorate
27.22


 
Chief Nursing Officer Directorate
24.63


 
DG Co-Ordination - Health
3.43


 
DG: Health and Support
4.63


 
EHealth Directorate
4.00


 
Health Delivery Directorate
25.23


 
Health Finance Directorate
41.19


 
Health Workforce Directorate
25.89


 
Healthcare Policy and Strategy Directorate
32.52


 
Primary and Community Care Directorate
117.05


 
Public Health and Wellbeing Directorate
104.22


DG Health Total 
410.00


DG Justice
Constitution Law and Courts Directorate
67.53


 
Courts Directorate
11.71


 
Criminal Justice
75.86


 
DG Co-Ordination - Justice and Communities
5.46


 
DG Justice
9.67


 
Housing and Regeneration
328.91


 
Judicial Appointments Board for Scotland
2.00


 
Office of the Scottish Parliamentary Counsel
14.00


 
Police and Community Safety
145.04


 
Scottish Government Legal Directorate (SGLD)
6.75


 
Scottish Prisons Complaints Commission
3.00


 
SGLD Group A
29.98


 
SGLD Group B
58.01


 
SGLD Group C
43.06


DG Justice Total 
800.98


Paid Centrally Managed Staff
Paid Centrally Managed Staff
69.78


Perm Sec
Change and Corporate Services
707.03


 
Communications Directorate
87.43


 
Ministerial Private Offices
80.23


 
Permanent Secretary’s Private Office
4.97


 
Strategy And Ministerial Support Directorate
44.27


Perm Sec Total
923.92


Grand Total* 
4,616.56



  Note: *The total includes the absorption into the core Scottish Government of 412.8 full-time equivalent staff from Communities Scotland

  

Grand Total Minus Communities Scotland
4,203.76

Teachers

Hugh O'Donnell (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-13210 by Maureen Watt on 3 June 2008, how many permanent special educational needs teachers will be recruited, trained and deployed by each local authority in each of the next four years.

Maureen Watt: It is the responsibility of local authorities to employ adequate numbers of teachers with the appropriate professional skills and knowledge.

Waste Management

Willie Coffey (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what powers it has to enforce compliance by retailers with any targets set for reducing the volume of excess packaging waste.

Richard Lochhead: In respect of excess packaging use, none; technical standards of this nature are reserved.

  In respect of packaging waste, The Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations 2007 obligate medium and large companies, including retailers, to recycle and recover packaging waste proportionate to the amounts of packaging that they use. Failure to do so is an offence. The regulations are enforced by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency.

  Although concerned with packaging waste the regulations nevertheless act as an incentive on businesses to curb their packaging use. That is, the less packaging a company uses the less its associated recycling and recovery costs will be.

Wildlife Crime

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many individuals were convicted of offences of wildlife crime in each of the last 10 years and, of these, what proportion were employed in professions associated with the game shooting industry.

The Executive have supplied the following corrected answer:

Kenny MacAskill: The available figures are given in the following table. Details of the professions of persons proceeded against in courts are not held centrally.

  Persons with a Charge Proved in Scottish Courts for Wildlife Related Offences1, 1996-97 to 2005-06

  

Financial year
Cruelty to Animals Excluding Dogs, Including Killing and Maiming Cattle
Offences Involving Animals Excluding Dogs and Birds
Offences Involving Birds
Hunting with Dogs
Cruelty to Wild Animals
Total


1996-97
63
16
7
-
-
86


1997-98
70
22
10
-
-
102


1998-99
53
24
6
-
-
83


1999-2000
47
30
7
-
-
84


2000-01
42
27
3
-
-
72


2001-02
38
14
5
-
-
57


2002-03
32
17
2
-
-
51


2003-042
42
19
10
2
1
75


2004-05
45
16
7
2
2
72


2005-062
44
15
7
16
1
84



  Notes:

  1. Where main offence.

  2. Total includes one offence under "Other wildlife offences".

Wildlife Crime

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether an early goal of implementing the recommendations of the report, Natural Justice: A Joint Thematic Inspection of the Arrangements in Scotland for Preventing, Investigating and Prosecuting Wildlife Crime , by HM Inspectorate of Constabulary for Scotland and the Inspectorate of Prosecution in Scotland, will be to train all police officers in the general awareness of wildlife crime.

Kenny MacAskill: Police officer training is an operational matter for Chief Constables to determine. The recommendations of the report Natural Justice: A Joint Thematic Inspection of the Arrangements in Scotland for Preventing, Investigating and Prosecuting Wildlife Crime , are currently being considered by the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland.